Dalai Lama Says He Likes Living In India Due To It Being A 'Centre Of Religious Harmony'

The 14th Dalai Lama criticised Chinese leaders saying that they "don't understand the variety of different cultures" there and there is too much control by the main Han ethnic group.

The spiritual leader added that he had nothing against "Chinese brothers and sisters" as fellow human beings. He also said that he broadly supported the ideas behind Communism and Marxism.

Reuters

The 86-year-old took part in an online news conference anchored in Tokyo and was answering a question about whether the international community should consider boycotting the Beijing Winter Olympics over the suppression of minorities, including those in the western region of Xinjiang.

"I know Communist Party leaders since Mao Zedong. Their ideas (are) good. But sometimes they do much extreme, tight control," he said from his base in India. He added that he believes that China can do much better under new leadership.

"Regarding Tibet and also Xinjiang, we have our own unique culture, so the more narrow-minded Chinese Communist leaders, they do not understand the variety of different cultures."

He said that China consists of not only ethnic Han people but also other, different, groups. He added: "In reality, too much control by Han people."

NBC

Back in 1950, China seized control of Tibet after its troops infiltrated the region in what it calls a "peaceful liberation". Ever since the takeover, Tiber has become one of the most restricted and sensitive areas in the country.

According to Beijing, Dalai Lama, who fled to India in 1959 after a failed uprising against the Chinese rule, is a dangerous "splittist" or separatist.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin, asked at a regular press briefing on Wednesday about relations with the Dalai Lama, referred to "an out-and-out separatist political group".

The Dalai Lama said he broadly supported the ideas of Communism and Marxism, laughing as he related an anecdote about how he once thought of joining the Communist Party but was dissuaded by a friend.

He also said, "I prefer to remain here in India, peacefully." He called it a centre of religious harmony. However, that conversation is still up for debate.

YouTube

He added, "All religions carry the message of love and use a different philosophy of views. So now the problem (is) the politicians, in cases some economists ... use this difference of religion. So now, religion is also politicised - so that is a problem."

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